Podcast: What might US spectrum policy look like in Trump’s second term?

The United States has always been viewed as a spectrum policy leader. The country hosted some of the world’s first spectrum auctions and has pioneered innovative sharing solutions like CBRS.

As Donald Trump begins his second term in office, PolicyTracker journalist Richard Haas speaks to Harold Feld, Senior Vice President at Public Knowledge, about the impact this will have on spectrum policy.

The episode touches on why the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) lost its ability to conduct auctions two years ago and why it will be a challenge to get it back even though the Republican party now has a majority in Congress.

Feld also touches on Trump-appointed FCC commissioner Brendan Carr and where his priorities might lie, including his efforts to auction the 3.98–4.2 GHz band and his opposition to the CBRS band.

Finally, the potential role of Elon Musk is also examined. The SpaceX CEO’s presence might be felt in FCC awards of broadband funding, which had previously excluded Starlink.

Listen to the new podcast below. You can also find it on all major podcast platforms.